March Madness 2011 Predictions: Inside Scoop on All Southwest Region Teams

March Madness tips off tonight as the newly formatted first round makes its debut in the 2011 NCAA Tournament. Four games will feature eight teams, with the winners advancing to the official second round.

The Southwest region of the bracket has perhaps the most interesting first round matchup, pitting No. 11 seed USC against fellow No. 11 seed VCU. The Trojans and the Rams will battle it out for a chance to take on the No. 6 seed Georgetown Hoyas in the second round.

But the Southwest bracket goes much deeper than those three teams.

The No. 1 seed Kansas Jayhawks are the choice of many to not only come out of this region and advance to the Final Four in Houston, but they are my selection to cut down the nets en route to winning another national championship.

But you don't have to take my word for it and just pencil in (or click along, nowadays) the Jayhawks to win it all.

Maybe you want to get into the spirit of St. Patrick's Day and go with the No. 2 seed Notre Dame Fighting Irish? If that doesn't do it for you, what about jumping on the No. 3 seed Purdue Boilermakers, who I actually have advancing to the Elite Eight?

What about picking a less obvious choice to come out of the Southwest bracket? This region offers great teams with great players, and I'm here to offer a preview of the entire Southwest bracket, guaranteed to help you fill out your brackets on the way to winning that elusive office pool prize.

2 "Chris" Injury Stories to Watch: Singleton and Wright

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WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 5: Chris Wright #4 of the Georgetown Hoyas takes a jump shot during a college basketball against the Providence Friars on February 5, 2011 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. The Hoyas won 83-81. (Photo by Mitchell Layton

The Southwest features two big injury storylines to watch for that will make the ultimate difference in whether two teams win their second round game or get defeated by double digits.

Chris Wright of the No. 6 seed Georgetown Hoyas has been out since February 23rd, and the Hoyas have not won a game since his wrist injury sidelined him. The Hoyas will play the winner of the first round between No. 11 USC and No. 11 VCU, and will have a great chance to beat either of those teams with a healthy Wright. Without him, their chances take a drastic hit for the worse.

The other injury question concerns Chris Singleton of the No. 10 seed Florida State Seminoles. He has not played since February 19, and the 'Noles have alternated wins and losses since he went down. If he plays, FSU can certainly upset the No. 7 seed Texas A&M Aggies. Without him, forget about the Seminoles advancing. 

Best Uniforms to Choose a Team: Notre Dame Gold Jerseys

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NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 11: Ben Hansbrough #23 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish looks on during a timeout against the Louisville Cardinals during the semifinals of the 2011 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament presented by American Eagle Outfitters at Madiso

Many people select their NCAA Tournament teams based solely on team uniforms and jersey colors. While I would certainly not advise using that method, it may work to your advantage this year in the Southwest region, provided you agree with my choice.

When the No. 2 seed Notre Dame Fighting Irish break out the gold uniforms, they win this contest, hands down.

Although, if it were up to me, even though they do not play until Friday, which just happens to be the day after St. Patrick's Day, I believe that they should break out some sick green jerseys.

Either way, the Irish are not a bad way to pick this season.

Worst Uniforms to Choose a Team: Morehead State

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DAYTON, OH - MARCH 20: Kenneth Faried #35 of the Morehead State Eagles gets a rebound against the Louisville Cardinals during the first round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the University of Dayton Arena on March 20, 2009 in Dayton,

A little too much going on here with uniform colors that don't go all that well together. Blue and yellow is alright when the colors are more like navy and gold, but not when they are this light.

Don't pick No. 13 seed Morehead State to defeat No. 4 seed Louisville, unless you absolutely hate the color red on uniforms.

But really, even then... 

Best Mascot to Select a Team: Boston University

The No. 16 seed Boston University Terriers have the best mascot in the Southwest region. 

What can I say, I love dogs!

Of course, when some of the other candidates include a Zip, a Peacock, a Spider and an Aggie, this was a pretty easy call.

Still, don't confuse my liking the Terrier as a mascot with my selecting them to defeat No. 1 seed Kansas.

Not going to happen, my friends.

Worst Mascot to Select a Team: St. Peter's

Recently, NBC dropped their long time logo of a proud peacock and went just to their letters.

Maybe the No. 14 seed St. Peter's Peacocks should just refer to themselves as SPC and also drop the peacock.

Especially because they won't be able to beat Purdue in any scenario.

Best Coach: Rick Pitino, Louisville

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NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 11: head coach Rick Pitino of the Louisville Cardinals looks on from the bench during the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the semifinals of the 2011 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament presented by American Eagle O

This was a tough call.

The Southwest bracket has many very good coaches, but it came down to Rick Pitino of the No. 4 seed Louisville Cardinals and Bill Self of the No. 1 seed Kansas Jayhawks.

I had to go with Pitino for the job he did this season with a Cardinals team that was expected to be in a rebuilding season.

And for when he wears that white suit. That thing is legendary!

Best Player This Season: Ben Hansbrough, Notre Dame

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NEW YORK - MARCH 11: Ben Hansbrough #23 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish gestures after a play against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the quarterfinal of the 2010 NCAA Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 11, 2010 in New York City. (Phot

The Southwest bracket offers many outstanding players to watch, but no one has been more valuable than Ben Hansbrough of No. 2 seed Notre Dame.

The Fighting Irish guard has had a breakout season and helped lead his team to a near No. 1 seed in the 2011 NCAA Tournament. Had they won even one more game in their conference tournament, they would have been looking at the third or fourth No. 1 seed.

Hansbrough averaged over 18 points per game and can shoot well from behind the three-point line and great from the free throw line. He is looking to uphold the fine tradition of the Hansbrough name in the NCAA Tournament.

His older brother, Tyler, won a national championship with the North Carolina Tar Heels back in 2009.

Best Duo (Non Relatives): JuJuan Johnson and E'Twaun Moore, Purdue

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

INDIANAPOLIS - MARCH 13: Center JuJuan Johnson #25 of the Purdue Boilermakers reacts after a play against the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the semifinals of the Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament at Conseco Fieldhouse on March 13, 2010 in Indianapolis, I

JuJuan Johnson and E'Twaun Moore of the No. 3 seed Purdue Boilermakers edge out Ben Hansbrough and Tim Abromaitis of the No. 2 seed Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

Also receiving votes were Austin Freeman and Chris Wright of the No. 6 seed Georgetown Hoyas.

But Johnson and Moore average over 38 points and 13 rebounds per game.

Best Duo (Relatives): Marcus and Markieff Morris, Kansas

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KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 11: Marcus Morris #22 and Markieff Morris #21 of the Kansas Jayhawks walk on the court during their semifinal game against the Colorado Buffaloes in the 2011 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at Sprint Center on March

Marcus and Markieff Morris of the No. 1 seed Kansas Jayhawks take this category in a runaway.

They are also the only two who qualify.

Still impressive, these twins are a force inside for the Jayhawks.

Best Name: Festus Ezeli, Vanderbilt

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ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 12: Festus Ezeli #3 of the Vanderbilt Commodores dunks on the Florida Gators during the semifinals of the SEC Men's Basketball Tournament at Georgia Dome on March 12, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Really? Was there seriously any other player who could challenge for this award? 

But this guy can play as well. He can score and rebound and put up monster numbers, but he gets himself into foul trouble quite often.

Never underestimate a Festus.

Overrated: Georgetown Hoyas

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NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 09: The mascot for the Georgetown Hoyas performs during the game the Connecticut Huskies during the second round of the 2011 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament presented by American Eagle Outfitters at Madison Square Garden on March

This one all comes down to Chris Wright.

If he is healthy, this No. 6 seed could actually be ranked too low. But if he is not 100 percent, the Georgetown Hoyas will struggle, even with the superior play of Austin Freeman.

Part of me says that this team could lose to the winner of the first round game between USC and VCU. Smarter money has them losing in the next round to Purdue.

Underrated: Richmond Spiders

Elsa/Getty Images

PROVIDENCE, RI - MARCH 18: Head coach Chris Mooney of the Richmond Spiders argues a call with the referee in the second half against the Saint Mary's Gaels during the first round of the 2010 NCAA men's basketball tournament on March 18, 2010 at the Dunki

The Spiders are the No. 12 seed, and we all know how often the No. 12 seed upsets a No. 5 seed.

That could happen again this season at least once, as head coach Chris Mooney has his team playing well at the right point in the season.

With underrated star Justin Harper leading the way, this could be a very dangerous team and I don't just mean in their first game.

Best First Round Matchup: No. 8 UNLV vs. No. 9 Illinois

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LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 08: Head coach Lon Kruger of the UNLV Rebels talks to Oscar Bellfield #0 during their game against the Boise State Broncos at The Orleans Arena December 8, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. UNLV won 75-72. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty

When the Runnin' Rebels of UNLV take on the Fighting Illini of Illinois, Lon Kruger will hear his name mentioned in multiple storylines.

Kruger is the head coach of UNLV.

He was the former coach at Illinois.

If he wins, he could play Kansas in the next round.

He played at Kansas.

Crazy!

You can't make this stuff up now, can you?

Upset Special: No. 12 Richmond over No. 5 Vanderbilt

Elsa/Getty Images

PROVIDENCE, RI - MARCH 18: Justin Harper #32 of the Richmond Spiders walks off the court after they lost to the Saint Mary's Gaels during the first round of the 2010 NCAA men's basketball tournament on March 18, 2010 at the Dunkin Donuts Arena in Provide

Justin Harper is a star. He just happens to play for a lesser known school.

Harper reminds me of Kevin Durant, and will lead the Spiders to an upset over the Commodores. 

Write it down. It is going to happen.

First Top 4 Seed to Get Eliminated: Louisville

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NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 11: Preston Knowles #2 of the Louisville Cardinals brings the ball up court against Ben Hansbrough #23 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the semifinals of the 2011 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament presented by American Eagl

The No. 4 Cardinals should win their first game against Morehead State. Remember the whole ugly uniform thing?

But they could struggle against either Richmond or Vanderbilt in the next round.

They are the safest pick, because there is no way they can get past Kansas, even if they do get out of the first weekend still alive.

I also considered No. 2 Notre Dame, who I have losing to No. 3 Purdue in the Sweet 16.

Who Will Win: Kansas

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KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 12: (3rd from L and 3rd from R)) Markieff Morris #21 and Josh Selby #32 of the Kansas Jayhawks of the Kansas Jayhawks celebrate with their teammates after defeating the Texas Longhorns 85-73 to win the 2011 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's

The No. 1 seed Jayhawks will come out of the Southwest bracket and advance to the Final Four in Houston.

Actually, they will reach the NCAA Tournament Finals.

While I'm guaranteeing things, I'll go you one step further.

The Kansas Jayhawks will cut down the nets and win the 2011 NCAA Tournament championship.

The only team who could stop them in their bracket is Purdue, but they will come up just short.

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